Aqueous cream and petroleum products

Although we do not comment on the negative press and reports circulating on the negative side effects of petroleum-based products (including aqueous cream) in skin care, it is a concern for a lot of our clients.

on this page Using aqueous cream instead of skin cleanser Using aqueous cream as moisturizing face cream Aqueous cream use for dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and diaper rash Preservatives used in aqueous cream Negative side effects of using aqueous cream Statistics of reported side effects The organic natural aqueous cream alternative

Using aqueous cream instead of skin cleanser

A lot of people think that aqueous cream is a safe all-purpose cream that can be used as a substitute for soap and any other SLS containing face cleansing products to clean the face with, if they have an allergy to any ingredients found in such cleaning materials, these people would be well advised to look very carefully at aqueous cream.

Using aqueous cream as moisturizing face cream

Many people on the other hand use aqueous cream as a moisturizing cream, and although it will undoubtedly help to increase skin moisture due to it occlusive manner, there are some side effects to using this very innocent sounding cream.

Aqueous cream use for dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and diaper rash

Aqueous cream is very commonly and frequently prescribed for a variety of skin conditions including dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and diaper rash. What you however need to keep in mind is that aqueous cream is a suspension made from paraffin and water and that is the reason why it is a very cheap cream to manufacture.

Preservatives used in aqueous cream

Due to the formulation of aqueous cream it can have the tendency to clog the pores and in some spark dermatitis and skin allergy and are generally persevered with butyl paraben and methyl paraben. These two preservatives are also hotly debated cosmetic ingredients and the proponents against parabens list a whole list of side effects from this specific type of preservative.

Negative side effects of using aqueous cream

Petroleum products like petrolatum and mineral oil as well as liquid paraffin is extracted from crude oil, but dead petrochemicals offer no benefit to the skin, and due to its extremely occlusive nature blocks the skin barrier – and while it holds moisture in, it does also prevent the skin from eliminating wastes as it should do.

Apart from that, petroleum based products have the tendency to prevent fat soluble vitamins from being absorbed which are necessary for skin health and repair, and in doing so cause problems for people suffering from eczema and dermatitis sufferers while also accelerating the aging process by promoting free-radical formation in the skin.

Statistics of reported side effects

Tests performed on 100 children at Sheffield Children's hospital showed that "56% of the episodes of exposure to aqueous cream [petroleum-based cream] were associated with an immediate cutaneous reaction… Cutaneous reactions to aqueous creams in children with atopic eczema are so common, that it should only be used as a soap substitute and not as a leave-on emollient (softening the skin and increasing elasticity)".

Apart from your skin health, it is also maybe important to note that the manufacture and processing of petrochemicals contribute to polluting our environment.

An audit in 2003 on adverse reactions in children with atopic eczema to emollients at a dermatology clinic in Sheffield, dispensing an aqueous cream amongst other emollients, revealed that out of 71 that had used aqueous cream, 40 (56.3%) developed an immediate reaction (one or more of burning, stinging, itching and redness) compared to 17.8% for other emollients used.

The organic natural aqueous cream alternative

Although some of these comments and statements are highly debated subjects with both sides insisting that they are right, we do not make any comments regarding the use of petroleum-based skin care products, but so think that consumers should have the right to choose to use a facial cream containing no petroleum products or petrochemicals compounds.

For this reason, Olinat was developed, to offer consumers a natural organic facial cream as an alternative.

To go to the order page...